The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-24

- ven iesiSue DooJS, let the gentle reader
now accompany us to
FORT OGDEN,
which is the oldest settlement in this portion
OIL FLORIDA. 1t is spread over several miles.
and occupies dry and salubrious site al
most entirely free from MOSQUITOES. and in
close proximity to the "big prairie" which
covers vast extent of country, and affords
| the Dest or pasturage. These wide tracts are
destltute OF timber, and interspersed with
httie lakelets of clear water, the moist soil
producing heavy growth of nutritious
Srass Wnlch affords sustenance to immense
! nerds OF native cattle. The owners of this
stock for convenience sake and mutual pro-
teetion, have located pell nell ON every eli
giole site, forming struggling but very
peasant village, which bids fair to develop
into
| THRIVING COMMERCIAL CENTRE
IL contains two churches one school and
about 400 inhabitants. Among the business
houses we would mention that of Simmons
q carton, who have also a branch at
Irabue, w. H. G. Smart, DR.. o. E. Roesch,
y. L." Mansfield, r.. L, Rowland, B. G
Granger, DR.. John S. Gibson, J. A. VII
liams and others.
Mrs. j. y. Carr has had charge of the
post office for four years and gives general
satisfaction.
Mr.. w. j. Williams runs the Central
Hotel, which is said to be well kept
Edmund Scott, surveyor and civil engi-
neer, is a sef-taught young man, much
esteemed.
The writer was the guest of the Carlton
House, new and handsome structure,
most pleasantly located and well patronized
lie Is under many obligations to tine talent
ed young proprietor, Mr.. E. B. Carlton,
and his brother, who were prodigal in their
attentions.
THE FORT OGDEN "NEws"
| is the name of q sprighty sheet conducted
and owned by the former and his legal as
sociate, Mr.. j. 7. G. Crawford. They are
doing much for the development of their
| hour1shlng town, which is at the head of
navigation on Peace creek, =" and in the re-
celpt of a considerable trade At present
the all-absorbing theme is the location of the
| court house for the new county of DeSoto.
THE CATTLE KING OF FLORIDA
Your correspondent had the pleasure of
an Interview with Mr.. z. King upon whom
| by general consent the above soubriuuet
has been bestowed. We found him to be a
| frank, outspoken gentleman of commanding
| stature and pleasing features, embrowned by.
the suns rays, and wholly devoid of all
| pretension. By dint Of close questioning
| the following facts relating to his peculiar
vocation were elected. His majesty had
been a resident of this region for eighteen
| years and was thoroughly conversant with
the topography of the country. He is the
owner of $4,000 cattle that range for about
| 100 miles upon the big Prairie" and along
the edge of Lake Okeechobee swamp, even
as far as
FORT PASSENGER,
on the Kissimmee river. They usually feed
| in punches of fifty to one hundred each, and
| seldom part company. But during the fly
| season, in May and June, they mass them
| selves in vast droves, often exceeding / 800
in number, and feed in dense ranks braced.
up against each other the friction destroy
ing or keeping off their tiny foes. At
distance they resembles
HUGE ARMY
in battle array The annual increase of Mr.
Kings stock is 1000 and his sales amount
to 1000 beef cattle and 400 barren or dry
cows. The former average $12 per head
and the latter, 81; They are marketed in Mo-
bile, Savannah, Key West, Cuba, and at
| other points. Key West alone consumes
1000. Cuba was formerly the principal
mart, but for several years, until very re-
Gently, there have been no shipments, for
various causes, to that Island. The first
order was received for 500 head during the
writer's visit, and the inhabitants hailed
with delight the re-opening of the trade.
But alas, the quarantine regulations
have dashed their prospects at the very
outset. The exported cattle are driven on
board of steamers or sail vessels at Punta
RasSa or Punta Gordo.
Mr. King EMPLOYS twenty-five COWBOYS at
$50 month each, They begin to herd in
the spring and the work continues until
September Large pens are constructed all
along the range from ten to twenty miles
apart, where the several punches are coral
led and the calves marked and branded. A
wagon team with provisions, cooking uten-
sis, ETC., moves daily from pen to pen to
provide for the wants of the cowboys at
night. When herdman is not working for
stated wages he receives SOC. for
each animal that is driven up, marked
and branded The total cost of delivery
boys are dashing, reckless set, but noted
for their honesty. King King resides at
Fort Ogden, and is constantly adding by
purchase to his immense herds. To the
Young and adventurous spirit there is no
more promising road to fortune than cattle
raising on the prairies and savannahs of
Florida, and but little capital is required at
the start.
A few miles more of travel over the
smooth track of the Florida Southern brings
you to Cleveland, named in honor of the
President.
Here we find the usual inchoate city
artistically laid off, and one magnificent
hotel, the National" having seventy ele-
gantly finished and furnished rooms, with
Messrs. Burrell & Son, propretors, who
also run the Lake View House, at Watkins
Glen. N. Y The hotel is delightfully."- sit
uated near the entrance of Charlotte Har-
Dor, at the present head of steamboat navi-
cation. Boats arrive and depart every day,
and the whole surroundings are charming.
It will be kept open all summer, and doubt
less will be well patronized by pleasure ex-
cursionists from all points above.
DR.. A. T. HoLLEZMAN
a well-known and popular Georgian will be
in charge of the establishment until fall
He resides here permanently, and besides
selling drugs, is engaged extensively in the
culture of mangoes, peaches, oranges,
grapes, guavas and pine apples. of the
latter he has 40 900 plants, some of them in
bearing. Nothing can be more delicate and
beautiful than the fruit Of the pine in its
early stages. It's color is exquisite. The
doctor Is sanguine of making a great sue
cess Of his venture, and we trust his fondest
expectations may be more than realized.
This is enterprise in the proper direction.
Many improvements are in contemplation
at Cleveland before the opening Of the next
winter season.
TRABUE AND CHARLOTTE HARBoR.
A short ride of three miles places the Wis
itor at Trabue, the actual termination of the